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State of the Union address and more: 5 things to know for today

1. State of the UnionSo, what kind of speech
will we get from President Trump tonight? A call for national unity as the nation feels hopelessly divided? Or a double-down on the politics of grievance that have defined his two years in office? The President might make bona fide news tonight in the speech. Trump, who has called border security negotiations among lawmakers a "waste of time," might go ahead and declare a national emergency on the US-Mexico border, potentially clearing the way for the use of Defense Department funds to build a wall. But such a move, which even members of his own party have doubts
about, is sure to spark a battle that the courts would have to settle.

2. Trump inaugural committeePresident Trump's inaugural committee has been subpoenaed by federal prosecutors
. The US attorney's office in Manhattan wants documents related to donors, vendors and finances, including "the possibility of" donations made by foreign nationals. The feds' investigation involves possible financial abuses related to the more than $100 million in donations raised for Trump's inauguration, CNN has reported. Investigators are focused on whether any inauguration money was misspent, a source told CNN. A committee spokesperson said it intends to "cooperate with the inquiry."

3. VirginiaVirginia politics are a mess. The governor, Democrat Ralph Northam, is facing down calls to resign
after a racist photo from his page in his medical school yearbook resurfaced. If Northam quits, the man who would replace him is now dealing with his own controversy. Lt. Gov. Justin Fairfax is denying a sex assault allegation
put out by the same conservative website that revealed the Northam photo. Fairfax said the claim, that he sexually assaulted a woman he met at the 2004 Democratic National Convention, is "totally fabricated" and that their encounter was consensual. As for Northam, one state lawmaker said the governor should step down because he "cannot effectively govern
" following the controversy over the racist photo. Here's how other Virginians feel
.

4. Australian floodsAustralia has been suffering through a record-breaking heat wave
. Now, the northeastern part of the country is dealing with massive flooding
that's put 20,000 homes at risk. Heavy, unrelenting rain has hammered the state of Queensland, with floodwaters forcing people from their homes and submerging the city of Townsville. Supermarkets are sending in supplies by barge to head off food shortages. And residents are reporting seeing crocodiles and snakes
swirling through the flooded streets.

5. James BrownTwelve years ago, legendary soul singer James Brown died. The official cause was a heart attack and fluid in his lungs. But when it comes to the Godfather of Soul, you should always question the official story. CNN's Tom Lake spent almost two years digging into Brown's death. He traveled through nine states, read tens of thousands of pages of police and court records, interviewed nearly 140 people and analyzed more than 1,300 pages of text messages. His conclusion: There are legitimate questions about James Brown's death
that should still be answered. And there is a disturbing pattern of similarities between the death of Brown's third wife, Adrienne, and his own.